Systemic Advocacy
Systemic Advocacy is when a group of people work together to advance their collective rights and interests, such as by campaigning and speaking with politicians and the government. CoMHWA represents our member’s views by engaging in consultations including surveys and focus groups on particular issues and our regular advisory groups.
Listen. Advocate. Change.
At Consumers of Mental Health WA, systemic advocacy is how lived experience shapes better mental health systems.
We listen to the experiences of mental health consumers across Western Australia, advocate for their priorities with decision-makers, and work towards lasting change in policy, services and systems.
CoMHWA is a consumer-led organisation, meaning our advocacy is grounded in the expertise of people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges.
Listen
Consumer Advisory Groups
Our Consumer Advisory Groups ensure lived experience expertise guides CoMHWA’s systemic advocacy work. Each group brings a different perspective to the issues affecting mental health consumers across Western Australia.
Find out more about our Consumer Advisory Groups →
Consultations, Surveys and Focus Groups
Alongside our advisory groups, CoMHWA engages with consumers through consultations, surveys, focus groups and co-design opportunities to understand emerging issues and gather feedback on policy and systemic reform.
See our current consultation opportunities →
Member Feedback
How you can help:
- Report an issue you’re concerned about so that we are aware of it.
- Help out by sharing your views in our consultations and campaigns.
- Keep an eye out for opportunities to join our CoMHWA Advisory Groups
If there’s something within the mental health sector that you think is an inherent systemic issue, we’d love to hear about it.
As a consumer advocacy organisation, we want to make it simple for your voice to be heard and make sure your message gets delivered to those who need to hear it.
Email the Systemic Advocacy team today at sysadvocacy@comhwa.org.au to help us make a difference for mental health consumers together.
Advocate
We turn lived experience insights into submissions, position papers, consultation responses and policy advice.
View our publications, submissions and position papers →
Change
Recent advocacy highlights
- Submission to the Inquiry into the Guardianship and Administration System in WA
- Consultation responses on psychosocial disability and NDIS reform
- Representation through the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance
- Participation in government and sector working groups
What change looks like
- Consumer voices informing policy decisions
- Greater lived experience representation
- Improved consumer participation
- Stronger rights-based approaches
